JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES CITY OF AGAWAM AND BOARD OF APPEALS FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK AND HISPANIC FARM WORKERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today filed a complaint
against the city of Agawam, Massachusetts, the Agawam Board of Appeals, and
two of its members. The complaint alleges that the city violated the federal
Fair Housing Act when it denied a farmer's proposal to construct housing for
approximately 27 farm workers on a tobacco farm located in Agawam, a suburb of
Springfield, Massachusetts.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Massachusetts, alleges
that the city of Agawam discriminated on the basis of race and national origin
against a group of Jamaican and Puerto Rican farm workers employed by C & E
Tobacco, Inc. C & E, a family-owned business operating farms in Massachusetts
and Connecticut, is required by federal law to provide housing for its
seasonal non-local farm laborers. The complaint alleges that the city rejected
C & E's housing plan based on concerns by city residents that black Jamaican
and Hispanic Puerto Rican workers would occupy the housing.

The Justice Department alleges in its lawsuit that city officials took steps
to reverse the Agawam Planning Board's approval of C & E's housing plan after
numerous public hearings, during which white Agawam residents expressed strong
opposition to the proposal.

The suit seeks an order requiring the city to cease discrimination, ensure
that farm worker housing is constructed, pay damages to persons injured by the
city's practices, and pay civil penalties.

Individuals who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination
practices may file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) or a lawsuit in federal or state court. Individuals must
file their complaint with HUD within one year of a housing discrimination
incident or file a lawsuit in federal or state court within two years of an
incident. For more information about housing discrimination laws, call (202)
514-4713 or visit the Department of Justice website at
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/index.html.